Seventeenth Annual European DNA Day Essay Contest for High School Students
The Winners have been selected!
The European Society of Human Genetics was delighted that students from 26 European countries submitted 298 essays and 31 videos this year. The evaluation was made involving 45 experts in the field, who selected the following 3 winners in each category and a total of 11 honourable mentions over both categories.
The names of the winners will be announced in front of more than 5.000 international scientists and doctors attending the European Human Genetics Conference in Milan on May 27, 2025.
Winners, commendation as well as honourable mentions will receive a diploma within the next weeks. Acknowledgements will be sent to all submitters.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 DNA Day Essay contest!
1st Place
Snigdha Rai
School: Jamnabai Narsee International School, Mumbai, India Essay Title: Beyond the Genome: How Genetic Diversity Shapes the Future of Global Health
2nd Place
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Mei Bejdo School: Gjimnazi Sami Frasheri, Tirane, Albania Essay Title: Symphony of Our Genes: A Journey into Genetic Diversity and Human Health |
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3rd Place
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Basak Memiguven School: Cankaya Doga Anadolu Lisesi, Ankara, Turkey Essay Title: Understanding Genetic Diversity |
Congratulations to the Winners of the 2025 Video Contest
1st Place (twice) |
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| Dakyung Yoon
Teacher: Esther Brockett School: Asia Pacific International School Seoul, South Korea Video Title: The Key to Precision Medicine – Understanding Genetic Diversity |
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Tanush Gupta Teacher: Darren Goffin School: Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet, Greater London, UK Video Title: Genes Across the Globe: Why Genetic Diversity Matters. |
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3rd Place |
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Jaime Chan Teacher: Imogen Glover School: Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Cheltenham, UK Video Title: The importance of understanding genetic diversity for health and disease |
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Congratulations to the Honorable Mentions
Honourable Mentions Essay Contest (in alphabetical order)
| Tuna Kurtoglu
School: ÖZEL SIVAS MODERN BILIMLER AKADEMISI, Sivas, Turkey Essay Title: The Importance of Understanding Genetic Diversity in Health and Disease |
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| Sarp Sabancilar
School: ÇANKAYA DOGA 86;A ANADOLU LİSESİ, Ankara, Turkey Essay Title: How Genetic Diversity Helps Us Understand Disease |
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| Minseo Kim
School: Carmel High School, United States Essay Title: Genetic Diversity : The Depth of One Percent |
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| Arwen Shah
School: Greenwood High, Babgalore, India Essay Title: Every Genome Counts |
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| YİĞİT JENAR YEŞİLYURT School: ODTÜ GELISTIRME VAKFI ÖZEL KAYSERI ANADOLU LISESI, Kocasinan, Turkey Essay Title: Genetic Diversity: A Key Role in Global Health Access and the Fight Against DiseaseRead Essay |
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| Katie Longley
School: The Wallace High School, Lisburn, UK Essay Title: KRAS: Undruggable to Treatable |
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Honourable Mentions Video Contest (in alphabetical order)
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Sahasra Cheekati Teacher: Zainab Butt School: Mountain House High School, United States Video Title: I’m Glad We’re Different |
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Tudor Neacsu Teacher: Pat Doyle School: Institute of Education, Dublin, Ireland Video Title: How Studies in Genetic Diversity are driving Medicine’s Future |
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Pranay Mathur Teacher: Nisa Koksal School: Gems International School Al Khalil, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Video Title: One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Why Diversity in DNA Matters |
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Parid Todri Teacher: Olgena Thoma School: Maarif Tirana Campus New York High School, Tirana, Albania Video Title: Every Genome Matters |
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Charlene Cheuk Lam Kwan Teacher: Matthew Gill School: Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Cheltenham, United Kingdom Video Title: The importance of understanding genetic diversity for health and disease |
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Prizes
First Place Winner: EUR 400.- In addition, sponsoring teachers of first place students will receive EUR 1.000.- to organise a science project or to purchase classroom equipment.
Second Place Winner: EUR 300.- In addition, sponsoring teachers of first place students will receive EUR 800.- to organise a science project or to purchase classroom equipment
Third Place Winner: EUR 200.- In addition, sponsoring teachers of first place students will receive EUR 500.- to organise a science project or to purchase classroom equipment
All participants will receive a certificate of appreciation for their participation in the contest.
Task 2025
‘Please, discuss the importance of understanding genetic diversity for health and disease. Support your example with specific DNA variants and genes.’
